The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh announced Tuesday it is offering eligible faculty and staff a voluntary retirement buyout with a one-time payment equal to 50% of an employee's annual base salary.

UW-Oshkosh becomes the third campus within the UW System to offer buyouts in an effort to reduce its workforce in the face of state budget cuts. UW-Eau Claire was the first, followed last week by UW-Superior.

UW-Oshkosh expects about 100 employees would be eligible. It has set a goal of reducing its workforce by 80 within the next three years.(26)

At a deflated Lambeau Field — the Packers’ playoff hopes at stake — the back-up quarterback supplanted Scott Tolzien and led a furious comeback. Scoring on four straight possessions, Flynn took Green Bay to overtime against Minnesota.

Flynn brought the theatrics. But it wasn’t quite enough.

The Packers and Vikings settled with a 26-26 tie Sunday. With the Detroit Lions (6-5) and Chicago Bears (6-5) both losing, Green Bay (5-5-1) is still very much alive in the NFC North race. But Sunday also had to leave everyone wanting more.

Flynn finished 21 of 36 for 218 yards with one touchdown.

After leading a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives to draw the Packers within a field goal, Flynn got the ball back yet again after Mike Neal's sack of Christian Ponder on third down late in the fourth quarter. With 2 minutes and 27 seconds to go, and no timeouts, Flynn took over at Green Bay’s own 31-yard line.

And facing a fourth and 6, Flynn got the Vikings to jump offside and hit James Jones on a 28-yard free play. Green Bay didn’t get the touchdown, settling with a 26-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to tie it up at 23-23 with 46 seconds to go.

In overtime, Flynn found Jordy Nelson (15 yards) and James Jones (22 yards) on crossing routes. Working on Chris Cook, receiver Jarrett Boykin then made a twisting, daredevil 34-yard reception. But the drive stalled deep in Vikings’ territory and the Packers settled with the field goal.

Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart — two backs who combined for 237 rushing yards — went to work on Minnesota’s ensuing drive. Cordarrelle Patterson dropped a tipped pass in the back of the end zone and the Vikings were forced to settle for a field goal.

And that’s how this one ended.

A tie.

Player of the game: He needed a breather late, and the Packers offense certainly missed him, but Eddie Lacy had 158 total yards (110 rushing, 48 receiving) and a touchdown. Breaking tackles all game, he helped the Packers claw back.

Turning point: When Flynn replaced Tolzien. The team, in general, needed a lift. A quarterback change accomplished that. As Flynn provided instant offense, the players around the quarterback seemed to play more inspired to bring the Packers back. It just wasn’t enough. With a chance at touchdowns at the end of regulation and in overtime, Green Bay couldn’t finish.

Big number: 11.4 — yards per carry for Gerhart. The Packers know Peterson is dangerous, but the back-up also hurt them in this one.

What went right: Not much early. Tolzien had a fun, spin-o-rama of a touchdown run in the first quarter. The quarterback used a pump fake to freeze Brian Robison right, scrambled and then spun to elude Letroy Guion for a 6-yard score. Lacy earned his yards. His touchdown with 11:42 to go made it 23-13. He then sent Xavier Rhodes into tomorrow on a 13-yard reception before Flynn’s touchdown to Boykinmade it 23-20.

Overall, Flynn provided the spark. With the team trailing, 23-7, in the first quarter, he spearheaded touchdown drives of 80 and 76 drives to make it a 23-20 game. He then showed poise and clock management on the game-tying field goal drive.

After a rough start, the Packers defense hunkered down for stretches late. Minnesota gained only one first down in the fourth quarter. Green Bay had six sacks, and eventually forced Ponder into erratic decisions.

What went wrong: Tolzien didn’t commit another momentum-changing turnover, but he only regressed in his third game at quarterback. Before getting pulled in favor of Flynn, the former Badger completed only 7 of 17 passes for 98 yards. He missed receivers high and couldn’t get the offense into a rhythm against the league’s 29th-ranked pass defense.

James Jones and Brandon Bostick dropped potential touchdowns.

Again, the Packers’ defense struggled to get off the field through three quarters. For a while, Ponder (103.9 passer rating) played like an All-Pro. In the trenches, Minnesota dominated. Both Peterson and Gerhart carved up the Green Bay run defense to extend the Vikings’ lead. While the defense was without both cornerback Sam Shields and defensive end Johnny Jolly, this has been the theme of the month. Instead of smelling blood with the Vikings backed up at their own 2- and 4-yard line, the Packers were gashed for 10- and 12-play field goal drives.

Cornerback Davon House dropped an interception that could have been returned for a touchdown. And the Packers’ decision to go for two late came back to haunt them.

For more coverage, review our game blog and box score. Plus, get additional coverage of the game later tonight at JSOnline.com and in tomorrow's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

About Tyler Dunne

Tyler Dunne covers the Green Bay Packers. He has been on the beat since 2011, winning awards with the Pro Football Writers of America and Milwaukee Press Club.